2016 Chevrolet Camaro is now lighter yet more powerful, priced from $26,695

Lighter and more powerful – these words best describe the new MY2016 Chevrolet Camaro. Indeed, Chevrolet was able to come up with a Camaro that is up to 390 lbs (177 kg) lighter and more powerful than the previous model.

According to Oppenheiser, the Camaro’s modular design has made the architecture more adaptable and mass efficient.

He disclosed that as a result, Chevrolet was able to come up with 12 chassis components that would meet the structural requirements of each Camaro model, without the additional yet unnecessary mass on other models.

In terms of numbers, the MY2016 Camaro has a base curb weight that is around 368 lbs (167 kg) lighter than that of its predecessor.

On the other hand, the 1SS model is around 223 lbs (101 kg) lighter and 29 hp more powerful, resulting to a 14-percent improvement in its power-to-weight ratio.

Chervolet will start selling the MY2016 Camaro this fall, with a suggested retail price of $26,695 for the Camaro 1LT and $37,295 for the 1SS.

Based in Detroit, Chevrolet is one of the largest auto brands in the world with operations in over 115 countries and annual sales of around 4.8 million cars and trucks.

Powertrain

For the 2016 model year, the Camaro is available with three engine options -- 2.0L Turbo, 3.6L V-6 and 6.2L V-8. The 2.0L Turbo provides 275 hp of output and 295 lb-ft of torque while the 3.6L V-6 engine develops 335 hp of output and 284 lb-ft of torque.

On the other hand, the 6.2L V-8 chugs out 455 hp of output and 455 lb-ft of torque. Interestingly, the 6.2L V-8 engine that powers the Camaro SS coupe (with eight-speed paddle-shift automatic transmission) allows the vehicle to accelerate from zero to 60 mph in just 4.0 seconds and it can complete a quarter-mile in 12.3 seconds (116 mph).

When mated to a manual gearbox, a V-8 Camaro sprints from nil to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds and covers a quarter mile in 12.5 seconds at 115 mph.

Furthermore, the 2.0L Turbo with six-speed manual gearbox could dash from zero to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds and reach a quarter mile in 14 seconds.

When paired to an automatic transmission, a 2.0L Turbo Camaro accelerates from nil to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds while covering a quarter mile in 14.0 seconds. Coming in as standard are 18-inch wheels wrapped in Goodyear Eagle Sport all-season tires, the 2.0L Turbo provides 0.85 g in cornering grip and 60-0-mph braking in 129 feet.

Meanwhile, the available 3.6L V-6 could power the Camaro to enable it to accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 5.2 seconds (manual) and 5.1 seconds (automatic). The V-6 version of the Camaro can cover a quarter mile in 13.7 seconds (manual) and 13.5 seconds (automatic).

Featuring the RS package that includes 20-inch wheels hugged by Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric all-season run-flat tires, the 3.6L V-6 delivers 0.89 g in cornering grip as well as a 60-0 mph braking in 124 feet.

Al Oppenheiser, Camaro chief engineer, remarked that the Camaro 2.0L Turbo performs at a level that can challenge some iconic muscle cars of the 1960s while the Camaro SS is one of the most capable 2+2 coupes on the auto market.

He noted that performance numbers of the MY2016 may be great but it boasts of other advantages.

The vehicle now feels more responsive and agile and now accelerates faster, brakes more powerfully and corners quicker. Remarkable as it is, the performance of the new Camaro could be attributed to the fact that the development team paid more attention to cutting vehicle mass and enhancing structural stiffness.

In fact, the team devoted around nine million hours of computational time just to find ways to lighten and stiffen the chassis. As a result, the development team adopted a modular architecture strategy that allowed them to fashion the chassis to each model.

Press Release

LIGHTER 2016 CAMARO DELIVERS BENCHMARK PERFORMANCE

Less weight and more power is the combination for performance success and engineers of the 2016 Camaro have the numbers to prove it. With weight savings of up to 390 pounds (177 kg), the all-new Camaro delivers performance numbers that reset the benchmark for the segment.

The other Gen Six Camaro coupe models are commensurately quick, with the 275-hp (205) 2.0L Turbo delivering 5.4-second 0-60 performance and a 14.0-second quarter-mile, with the six-speed manual. With the available, 335-hp (250 kW) 3.6L V-6 and eight-speed automatic, the Camaro zips to 60 mph in 5.1 seconds and down the quarter-mile in only 13.5 seconds.

“The performance of the Camaro 2.0L Turbo will challenge many of the iconic muscle cars from the 1960s, while the Camaro SS’s performance – including 0.97 g cornering – makes it one of the most capable 2+2 coupes on the market,” said Al Oppenheiser, Camaro chief engineer. “The performance numbers only tell half of the story, because the lighter curb weight also makes the new Camaro feel more responsive and agile behind the wheel. It brakes more powerfully, dives into corners quicker, accelerates faster and is more fun to drive than ever.”

Much of the Camaro’s performance can be attributed to the development team’s focus on reducing vehicle mass and improving structural stiffness. They invested 9 million hours of computational time looking for opportunities to make the chassis lighter and stiffer. That computer-aided engineering led to a modular architecture strategy that tailored the chassis to each model (see accompanying infographic).

“Every Camaro model offers exceptional chassis strength and rigidity, but the modular design made the architecture more adaptable and mass-efficient, because we didn’t have to compensate for the unique demands of, say, the SS convertible when building a 2.0L Turbo coupe,” said Oppenheiser. “The result was an elegant engineering solution: 12 chassis components that could be combined to meet the structural requirements of each specific model, without adding unnecessary mass to other models.”

Consequently, the base curb weight for the 2016 Camaro is 368 pounds (167 kg) lighter than the previous model. The 1SS model is 223 pounds (101 kg) lighter, while offering 29 more horsepower, for a 14-percent improvement in its power-to-weight ratio.

The 2016 Camaro goes on sale this fall, with a suggested retail price of $26,695 for the Camaro 1LT and $37,295 for the 1SS.

Autonomous cars are now becoming more of a reality as carmakers and their partners continue the development of self-driving technologies. Connected vehicles now actually exist but auto companies see that...